Location: Oxford, OH•In-State Tuition: $17,809•Out-of-State Tuition: $40,025•Admission Rate: 82%•Avg SAT: 1313
Median Earnings (1yr)
$47,295
95th percentile
Median Debt
$26,000
3% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.55 ManageableSample: 55 graduates

Analysis

Miami University-Oxford's Design and Applied Arts program stands out dramatically in a field where many graduates struggle to find financial footing. At $47,295 in first-year earnings, graduates earn 78% more than the typical Ohio design graduate and 41% more than the national median. This places the program in the 95th percentile both nationally and within Ohio—a rare achievement for an arts program at a school with an 82% acceptance rate.

The financial picture looks sustainable: earnings climb to $54,530 by year four, while the $26,000 debt burden translates to a manageable 0.55 ratio. That's roughly half a year's starting salary, which most graduates can pay down without sacrificing other life goals. Compare this to many design programs where first-year earnings barely exceed the debt amount. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) gives us reasonable confidence in these numbers, and the program trails only Cincinnati's powerhouse design school in Ohio.

What makes Miami's design program work? The combination of strong career services, employer connections in Cincinnati and beyond, and selective admissions (despite the 82% overall rate, successful programs often have higher internal standards) appears to translate into job placements that actually use the degree. For a field where many graduates end up in retail or food service, this outcome is exceptional.

Where Miami University-Oxford Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all design and applied arts bachelors's programs nationally

Miami University-OxfordOther design and applied arts programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Miami University-Oxford graduates compare to all programs nationally

Miami University-Oxford earns $47k — 95th percentile among design and applied arts bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Miami University-Oxford$47,295$54,530+15%
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus$52,526$56,482+8%
Ohio State University-Main Campus$45,176$56,414+25%
University of Akron Main Campus$39,856$51,028+28%
University of Dayton$43,609$50,910+17%

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Design and Applied Arts bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (42 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Miami University-OxfordOxford$17,809$47,295$54,530$26,0000.55
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati$13,570$52,526$56,482$25,8510.49
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus$12,859$45,176$56,414$25,1000.56
University of DaytonDayton$47,600$43,609$50,910——
University of Akron Main CampusAkron$12,799$39,856$51,028$27,0000.68
Kent State University at KentKent$12,846$36,351$45,915$26,0000.72
National Median—$33,563—$26,8800.80

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with design and applied arts graduates

Art Directors

Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.

$111,040/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Effects Artists and Animators

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

$99,800/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in architecture and architectural design, such as architectural environmental design, interior architecture/design, and landscape architecture. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Fashion Designers

Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.

$80,690/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Commercial and Industrial Designers

Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

$79,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Set and Exhibit Designers

Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.

$66,280/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Interior Designers

Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

$63,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Graphic Designers

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

$61,300/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Artists and Related Workers, All Other

All artists and related workers not listed separately.

$56,260/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Miami University-Oxford, approximately 11% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 55 graduates with reported earnings and 55 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.